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Middlesbrough only draw at Norwich as they miss penalty and squander two-goal lead

Tommy Conway of Middlesbrough has his penalty saved
-Credit: (Image: Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)


Tommy Conway scored twice for Middlesbrough but then missed a costly penalty to kill the game off as Norwich City came from 3-1 down to earn a 3-3 draw at Carrow Road.

Borja Sainz gave the home side an early lead before a clinical Boro first half saw Conway's brace and Finn Azaz's goal taking them into the interval with a two-goal cushion. When Conway missed his second-half spot-kick, however, it provided the home side with the momentum as Sainz bagged another before a poor Dieng own goal ended up denying Boro what should have been maximum points.

Michael Carrick made one change from the side that beat Sheffield United in midweek. But it wasn't to restore match-winner Emmanuel Latte Lath to the line-up. Instead, refreshing his defensive line in this third game in eight days, Anfernee Dijksteel started on his 28th birthday, ahead of Luke Ayling, who dropped to the bench.

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Norwich were unbeaten in 20 home league games ahead of Boro's visit and Carrick's side looked to have made their task even harder when they fell behind in just the eighth minute.

Championship top scorer Borja Sainz spun off Rav van den Berg and got the ball back to feel when Dijksteel's challenge fell kindly to him. The Spaniard needed little invitation to have a go as he smashed one from 25 yards beyond a helpless Seny Dieng.

For a team that had struggled to be clinical all season, Boro certainly had no such struggles at Carrow Road, however. Their response to falling behind in what became a really open and end-to-end to game was emphatic.

They were level within four minutes of falling behind as Conway showed great movement after a corner was cleared. He got in at the backpost unmarked and got on the end of an excellent Neto Borges cross. George Long ought to have saved it as his near post, but Conway wasn't complaining and Boro were quickly level.

As both sides went at one another, Ben Doak began to grow into the game. And he would have a huge role to play as Boro turned the game around and took the lead on 40 minutes.

From a Norwich corner, Dijksteel headed away, with Doak carrying the ball on the counter from his own half into the final third. Dijksteel had carried on his run after the defensive header and received from Doak just ahead of the box. He then had the vision to slide across the edge for Conway, who produced an excellent finish off the post to fire his fourth goal for the club.

Boro weren't finished there in the first half, however. Having very nearly conceded an instant equaliser when Sainz got in behind but hit the outside of the post, Finn Azaz finally got his first goal of the season, which had been coming for quite some time now.

Hayden Hackney, who captained Boro on the day, saw his effort from the edge saved. Doak reacted quickest to the loose ball, though. Although he was too wide of the target to turn it home himself, he played an excellent ball back across the face for Azaz to just about readjust his body and he managed to get it on target and in to give Boro a comfort blanket in first-half stoppage time.

With Boro having a lot to protect, their approach to the second half was understandably different. They looked to have more discipline out of possession and limited the home side as they sought a way back into the game. Looking to hit on the counter, Doak was increasingly involved.

Norwich had to wait until after the hour mark for their first sight of goal in the second half as Sainz got on the end of Emiliano Marcondes's header but, running in behind, could only volley over Dieng's goal.

Heeding the warning, Boro quickly went up the other end and got the perfect opportunity to kill the game off. When Riley McGree nicked in ahead of Jose Cordoba as he tried to clear and won his side a penalty.

However, looking to net his hat-trick from the spot, Conway saw his spot-kick saved and very quickly thereafter it proved decisive and costly for Boro.

Within five minutes of the penalty miss, Norwich had one back. Sainz again profited as Boro failed to clear their lines, he got past Morris into the box and unleashed another stunning strike into the far top corner.

If Dieng could do little with the home side's first two goals, he was left wanting with the equaliser eight minutes later. Caught out by a cross from Kellen Fisher, he just about got down to stop it crossing the line, only for it to cannon off his own foot and go in for an own goal.

The drama of the game was not over there, however. As Boro looked to break with 87 minutes on the clock through Hackney, Kenny McLean saw red for a reckless, high lunge. It gave Boro a man advantage and six minutes of added time to try and make use of it.

Alas, they had to settle for the point in the end. In isolation, not a terrible draw away to a side who are now unbeaten in 21 games at Carrow Road. But in the context - missing a penalty to go 4-1 up - it's one that ultimately feels like a massive missed opportunity.